How did Kidde smoke detectors fail?
Ionization smoke detectors are designed to detect heat not smoke. These smoke detectors are marketed by Kidde and other manufacturers as “smoke detectors.” Ionization technology detects fast flaming fires that give off little smoke. Ionization technology does not respond fast or at all to slow smoldering, smoky fires which are the most common types of residential fires. Examples of these types of fires are kitchen fires, grease fires, or electrical fires. The best type of technology to detect these common types of household fires is photoelectric. This type of technology is faster at responding to slow smoldering, smoky fires. There have been numerous injuries and deaths that could have been prevented had these ionization smoke detectors been properly designed and marketed. Long & Waite is currently representing a family who lost three family members when their Kidde ionization smoke detector failed to sound during the course of an electrical fire that occurred at the family residence.
